Ever wonder how you type in “google.com” and — voila! — you’re there? It’s all thanks to something called DNS. But did you know hackers can mess with it and take you somewhere you didn’t mean to go? That, in a nutshell, is DNS poisoning.

Let me break it down.

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The Basics: What’s DNS, Anyway?

Think of DNS (Domain Name System) as the internet’s phonebook. When you type a website address into your browser, DNS finds the right number (IP address) so you end up at the right place.

For example, when you enter “reddit.com,” your computer asks a DNS server, “Hey, what’s the number for reddit.com?” The DNS server replies, and off you go.

Where Does Poisoning Come In?

DNS poisoning — sometimes called DNS spoofing — is when someone corrupts the phonebook.

A hacker might trick your computer into believing that the number for “yourbank.com” is actually the number for their scam website, not your actual bank. You think you’re logging in safely… but you’re not.